Did water reach the roots?
A soil probe can help you see how deeply the water went. Damp mulch on top does not always mean happy roots below.
Watering guide
Water the roots, not your calendar.
There is no magic watering day that works for every yard. Plant age, weather, soil, mulch, and irrigation all get a vote. Unfortunately, none of them check your calendar.
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New plants need a little extra help
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension spaces watering farther apart as newly planted desert-adapted plants settle in. The schedule changes by season and over the first eight weeks, then recommends gradually stretching the time between watering as plants establish.
Use the full new-plant schedule and monitoring guide for the plant and season you have.
Established plants play by different rules
Once settled in, many desert-adapted plants need less extra water than fresh transplants. A tree, shrub, perennial, and succulent will not all want the same thing. (Plants are terrible at sharing a watering schedule.)
See the Arizona Extension watering guide. It is a regional reference, not a promise for every yard or microclimate.
Three quick checks before you water
Is the system doing its job?
Emitter flow, spacing, pressure, and run time affect what each plant actually gets. A drip system can still have a diva emitter.
Has the weather changed?
Rain, heat, shade, and soil all change how quickly a yard dries. Adjust when the conditions change.
Newly planted is not the same as drought tolerant. Even a desert-adapted plant needs establishment care. Do not use an established-plant schedule for a fresh transplant.
For system design and local conditions, start with the University of Arizona's irrigation resources and your local Cooperative Extension office.